The Conference of Birds

In The Conference of the Birds (Mantiq al-Tayr) by Farid ud-Din Attar.

In The Conference of the Birds (Mantiq al-Tayr) by Farid ud-Din Attar, the valleys symbolize spiritual stages or trials that the seeker must traverse on their journey to find the Simurgh, which represents divine truth or God.

The book focuses on core Sufi doctrines, the Sufi path, and illustrative stories used to convey these complex ideas.

Core Sufi Doctrines:

  • Unity with God: A central theme throughout the excerpts is the idea of ultimate unity with God. This is achieved through annihilation of the ego, the self (nafs). Attar highlights that while some Sufi schools, like Bistami’s, emphasize ecstasy (ghalaba, sukr), others, like Junaid’s, advocate sobriety (sahw) to reach this goal. The poem doesn’t fully embrace the extreme pantheism of Ibn Arabi, maintaining a subtle distinction between God and creation.

“If you become that substance I propound, You are not God, though in God you are drowned; Those lost in Him are’not the Deity – This problem can be argued endlessly.”

  • The Soul’s Journey: The excerpts paint a vivid picture of the soul trapped in the physical body, longing for liberation and union with the divine. This longing is often described using the metaphor of a bird yearning to reach the Simorgh, a mythical bird symbolizing God. The journey is challenging, demanding purification of the nafs and transcendence of worldly desires.

“Set free your soul; impatient of delay, Step out along our sovereign’s royal Way: We have a king; beyond Kaf’s mountain peak The Simorgh lives, the sovereign whom you seek”

  • Love and Devotion: Attar emphasizes that the journey is not merely intellectual but emotional and spiritual. Love for God is the driving force, leading to profound transformations and sacrifices. Stories like the dervish abandoning his faith for a princess, the Christian embracing Islam for a glimpse of the beloved, and the old woman offering meager threads for Joseph illustrate the overwhelming power of love and devotion on the Sufi path.

“Love ruins one like me, and black disgrace Now stares a once-loved dervish in the face. For fifty years I walked an open road While in my heart high seas of worship flowed; Love ambushed me and at its sudden stroke For Christian garments I gave up my cloak;”

Valleys:
Each valley reflects a different phase of spiritual enlightenment and purification. Attar describes seven valleys, each representing a key stage of the mystical journey:

1. Valley of the Quest (Talab) The journey begins with a passionate search for divine truth. In this valley, the seeker renounces worldly attachments and embarks on the spiritual quest. Doubts and desires must be left behind.

2. Valley of Love (‘Ishq) Love dominates and consumes the seeker, burning away their ego. Love here is intense, irrational, and all-consuming, pushing the seeker to go beyond logic and personal desires.

3. Valley of Knowledge (Ma‘rifat) In this valley, the seeker gains spiritual insight and recognizes the mysteries of creation. This knowledge transcends intellect and is deeply intuitive, revealing hidden truths about the self and the divine.

4. Valley of Detachment (Istighna) The seeker must detach from all worldly and spiritual possessions. This valley involves freedom from all ties, even from the need for divine rewards, focusing solely on the divine essence.

5. Valley of Unity (Tawhid) Here, the seeker realizes the oneness of all creation and the unity of existence. Duality dissolves, and the seeker perceives only God everywhere.

6. Valley of Bewilderment (Hayrat) In this valley, the seeker is overwhelmed by the vastness and incomprehensibility of divine reality. This stage is marked by humility and awe, as the seeker understands their limitations.

7. Valley of Poverty and Annihilation (Faqr wa Fana) The journey culminates in the annihilation of the self (fana) and complete submission to God. In this state, the seeker becomes “poor” in self and “rich” in God, realizing that they are one with the divine.

Conclusion: Upon crossing these valleys, the birds that remain reach the Simurgh, only to realize that the Simurgh is a reflection of themselves. This profound revelation signifies that the divine truth lies within, and the journey is one of self-discovery and transformation. These valleys represent stages in Sufi mysticism and offer profound allegories for spiritual seekers striving to connect with the divine.


Birds:
Each bird represents a different human flaw, attachment, or characteristic that hinders the spiritual journey toward divine truth. These birds symbolize the inner struggles, doubts, and distractions that seekers face. Here’s an overview of some key birds and what they represent:

1. The Hoopoe (Leader)
Symbolism: The spiritual guide or master.
Role: The Hoopoe leads the birds on their quest to find the Simurgh. It represents wisdom, divine guidance, and the necessity of having a mentor on the spiritual path.

2. The Nightingale
Symbolism: The lover attached to earthly love.
Flaw: The Nightingale is consumed by its love for the rose, symbolizing a person’s attachment to fleeting, worldly beauty or passions.
Lesson: True love should be for the eternal (God), not the ephemeral.

3. The Parrot
Symbolism: The soul’s desire for immortality.
Flaw: The Parrot fears death and seeks the “fountain of life,” symbolizing an obsession with eternal life in a material sense rather than spiritual transformation.
Lesson: True immortality comes from spiritual union with the divine.

4. The Peacock
Symbolism: Pride and attachment to material beauty.
Flaw: The Peacock longs to return to the lost paradise, symbolizing a desire for worldly power and status.
Lesson: True paradise is spiritual and not found in earthly attachments.

5. The Duck
Symbolism: False piety and self-righteousness.
Flaw: The Duck is content with the purity of its own pond, symbolizing an attachment to superficial or ritualistic religious practices without deeper spiritual understanding.
Lesson: Piety must lead to spiritual growth, not self-satisfaction.

6. The Partridge
Symbolism: Greed and attachment to material possessions.
Flaw: The Partridge loves jewels and treasures, symbolizing a person’s attachment to wealth and worldly goods.
Lesson: Spiritual fulfillment cannot be bought or measured by material wealth.

7. The Falcon
Symbolism: Arrogance and attachment to power.
Flaw: The Falcon prides itself on its association with royalty and its lofty status, symbolizing arrogance and a sense of superiority.
Lesson: True greatness comes from humility and submission to God.

8. The Heron
Symbolism: Melancholy and longing for the past.
Flaw: The Heron is obsessed with water, representing a deep attachment to nostalgia and the inability to move forward on the spiritual path.
Lesson: Let go of the past to embrace the journey toward divine truth.

9. The Sparrow
Symbolism: Cowardice and fear.
Flaw: The Sparrow feels too small and insignificant to undertake the journey, symbolizing self-doubt and fear of the unknown.
Lesson: Faith and courage are essential to overcome spiritual challenges.

10. The Owl
Symbolism: Materialism and attachment to ruins.
Flaw: The Owl is obsessed with desolate ruins and treasures, symbolizing attachment to material gain and lifeless pursuits.
Lesson: Spiritual life lies in growth and vitality, not in dead materiality.

11. The Finch
Symbolism: Weakness and lack of resolve.
Flaw: The Finch doubts its own strength to endure the journey, symbolizing a lack of faith in one’s inner potential.
Lesson: Strength comes from reliance on God and perseverance. Key Takeaway Each bird reflects an aspect of human nature that must be overcome to progress spiritually. The journey of the birds is an allegory for the challenges and transformations necessary to realize divine truth and the unity of existence.